Brace



Aug. 30,1927; ',641,o2`7 M A. J. FEAsTER BRACE Y Filed Oct. 9, 1926 2S`heets-Sheet 2 y I I l BY mvEN'ToR WITNESS' ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 30,1927.

UNITED STA-TES renna .Partnr OFFICE.

ALBERT J". FEASTER, OF SALISBURY, NORTH CAROLINA.

' Banen.

Application filed October 9? 1926. Serial No.Y 140,616.

the brace to withstand the weight of a perl-F SOD.

A further object of the invention contemplates means for retracting thebrace from an angular position to its normally inoperative position.

More specifically stated the invention embodies means engageable withthe chest, under the arm-pits and at points upon the legs above theknees to support the body in a forwardly stooping posture.

. Vith the above and other objects in. view, the invention furtherconsists of the following novel features and details of construction tobe hereinafter more fully described, illust-rated in the accompanying'drawings, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is illustrative ofthe application of the invention.

Figure 2 is an elevation of theinvention.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken through the device per se.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating they checking means.

Figure 5 is an elevation of a connecting member for the extremities ofthe brace.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like characters ofreference denote corresponding parts the reference character indicates asubstantially inverted Y -shaped body member terminating to provide abi- 'furcated end portion 11 upon the extremity thereof. Leg members 12form hinge barrel connections 13 within the lower ends of the body.`Pockets 1li are formed within the upper ends of the legs adjacent theconnection therefor. The body portion 10 being hollow and having a platemember 15 Adisposed axially of the longitudinal center thereof andfalling short of the entire length of said body portion adjacent thebifurcated extremity thereof. Roller members 16 are journaled within thelower ends and upper extremities of the body portion, the purpose ofwhich will be presently apparent.

A connecting element 17 provides a bifurcated portion upon one endforming oblique-- ly disposed legs 18 received and fixed within thepockets 14 of the aforementioned legs 12. The upper portions of saidlegs 18 are passed over the lowermost of the roller members 16 while thesolid portion of thel element is passed upwardly within the hollowportion of the body 10 in advance yof the plate member 15 and rearwardlyover the uppermost of the roller members 16. A. retractile spring 19carried within the body 10 is connected with the remaining extremity ofsaid connecting element to render the same taut and to normally tensionsaid legs 12 in direct alignment with that of the body 7 portion 10. Thelower extremities of said legs 12 also terminate in bifurcated endportions 20. An arcuate-shaped plate 21 providing an apertured ear 22 atan appropriate point in its length and upon the forward side thereof ispivotallymounted within the bifurcated portion 11 upon the upperextremity of the body portion 10. An adjustablestrap member is attachedto the ends of said arcuate-shaped plate to Vsecure the latteracross thechest of a. person and under the arm-pits. likewise pivotally mountedwithin t-he bifurcate'd portions 2O of the legs 12 and which includestrap members for attaching said plates upon the legs immediately abovethe knees to permit the body to freely bend to a posture similar to thatas illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings.

in order to relieve the tension of the spring from the body of thewearer when the invention is called into. use l provide a check in theform of a. lever 24e pivoted within the.

body portion 10 and having an inwardly olfset portion 25 adapted forselective recep-v tion withinany one ofthe plurality of aperturesprovided at an appropriate point in the length of the connecting element17. A leaf spring 26 carried within the body p ortion and engageablewith said lever 2li acts as a detent therefor to normally tension saidoffset end portion inwardly toward the connecting element and within oneof the apertures thereof. A. disk 27 iscarried upon one end of the lever24 exteriorly of the bodyr to facilitate the operation of said leverfrom the outside.

In carrying out the invention it is to be noted that the invention isparticularly applicable for use by laborers while harvesting whereas itis incumbent to keep the body ina half-stooping position for longperiods Semicircular plates 28 are oi linie. The lriiel; beeoineni'ireal, and on elbow ni Seil :ilinnbe upon the linee to rest lie bnelx.'llbo boel; will ben bore libe Strain ol ibo pooiino upon one ssicle.lilrib ille invention :ip plieil ibe wearer nniy groep libe body portionand (lepresn i'be ilinl: ineinlmr 2T tlnneby rellenoing); illeinwirilljf oil;A porlion 25 of iiie lever :2ilroni libe iliznlienlzaperture of ilie vonneeiinej element' l? l'liereb),r permitting iboconnn'e,-,-sion:spring 1S) to become unroilerl :nifl exereiningf :iliebt pull upon tbe eoinieeiiino' element' '1,7 moving: in zin oppositedirei-lion n'ii'li respect i'bere'o. llfben ilie n'efiror lm` etoopeilin n (lioireil posture tbe ilisl nieinber i releziseil sind tbeinwnrilly exienclinp; oli'sel portion oi lille lever 2lin reifeiverlni'liin one ojl`V llio apertures in ille ronneeiing element" l? wherebytlie iennion of ibo relrzieiile spring; lf) will be re'- lezieeil fromibe belly portion, :incl legs; mii-rival thereby. llie neiggbt ol liewezireifs; liioilv in upon tbe firewire-eliopeil plaie Q1 unililirei'leii upon ille legs olf the wrzirer by lil e Senneirenlar pleineQ3 nlnelied itliereiio. I'

lbe boil); :inil boek no well :is tlie jointe :it i 1e lineeo :nifl bipswill be relieved 'from nnlne .airain zinil ilie ,laborer will beperiniileil lo n'orli more steadily inzunnneli as laborers nsninilylnive io 'frequently erect themselves to o. oloniling; position :milSvay Mclaren-illy lo relieve ille boek.

',lbe inreniion is Snseei'iiiible olz 1various elmngzjes in its lorn'iproportiol'ie :mil minor (lelniis of eonsrnetion :ind i-lie riggbt isnerein reeerveal lo nnile Snell ebnngg'ee is properl)`- lfoll niviibinilio Scope ol2 the appended 'lziiins.

Lofi-Lem' lli-loving ilins described my invention, Wlnlt :iF-selziilneil is:

l. In :i nlevieo olfV ibe elnnfneter described comprising :i bracelnwing o bellow boi'ly portion, leg nieinlrers lorrierl thereby unilznlnpieil for swinging movement thereon, n connectingl element 'itorille body und. lege, :i spring' inernber eonneoiinpv salici element`wili ille body, und, :ilizieliingg' ineens ezirrieil upon ibnextremities el? tbe body unil legs.

il. lnnee comprising :i bollen' belly portion o l Snlmlnniizilly'iiwerted Y-Slniped fol.'- inotion, legs bingeiillgf inonnteel upon tbe.lower exireiniiies oil ibe boi'lyv porition, :L oonneoiiingg eien'ient.itlnelnwl, o tbe lego oni'l paese@ Wllliin libe body portion, n relVzu'iile eprine; Carried by ibo body portion 21ml ooni'iefjiierl n'iibrmiil element lo nornnilly ponil/ion saiii'l legs in eliggnineni'` withlibe body, :uol :nlneliingr ineens corrieri upon tbe exl'ri'nnities: ollibe boel); :incl legs respectively.

fl. A body brave oE libe elnn'neter Clef `eifribeal eoinprisi ieg nbollon' nienxber o'l onbeiiinlizilly "(-lnipeil eonlignration, legnieinbers inonniefl upon the lower extreniitiee oiI tbe nien'iber, nconnecting eleineni'l lornn ing; bijlfnreiiieil portions* Connected withthe :unl ezn'rioil within lz-lie member, e, re* rnietile springeonneeting llie opposed encl oi' the element to regulatie the normal,position of smid legs, fiiinelling; ineens carried upon tlie free enilf:oil tbe inen'iber oncl legs, :inil ineens corrieri by the member onflziiloplei 'for cooperation with :smid eonneei1- infr; element to relieveilie tension of the spring lroni tbe bodyv of ille wearer.

In iiesiiiniony whereof I ziflix my signature.

ALBERT J. FEUTER.

